Salamanca

An ancient university town, Salamanca is an open-air museum with gorgeous historic buildings and a lively student vibe.

Salamanca was conquered in the third century by the Carthaginians, then became a Roman settlement before being ruled by the Moors. Its university is one of Europe’s oldest and this Spanish city also has a number of stunning old buildings, including Renaissance, Moorish, Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque monuments. Salamanca has been declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO and was chosen as a European City of Culture along with Bruges in Belgium.

It’s a very popular travel destination in Spain that takes its visitors on a journey back in time. Relax after your Spanish classes by wandering through the lovely cobblestone streets and soaking up the atmosphere of the old city, where some of Spain’s most well-known artists, writers, scientists and philosophers once lived.  Stop and enjoy some tapas in this a great culinary destination, close to the famous village of Guijuelo, which is legendary for its cured hams.What to do in SalamancaThere is much to explore in Salamanca – especially if you are a fan of art, history and culture. Start with the Plaza Mayor, the public square at the heart of the city and one of the grandest plazas in Spain. It is lined with three-storey buildings that date back to 1755 and is where many ceremonial occasions have taken place - including bullfights. These days, it is a peaceful place to relax and dine outdoors on tapas and beer.

Visit the Old Cathedral, which was constructed between 1100 and 1200.

This stunning Roman cathedral is one of the most impressive buildings from this architectural period in Spain. You can also visit the New Cathedral, which overlooks the town from an impressive hilltop location. It took two centuries to build and features a combination of Baroque, Gothic and Plateresque elements.The fascinating Casa Lis is an Art Nouveau and Art Deco Museum that houses some impressive objects from the end of the 19th century and start of the 20th century: displays of paintings, furniture, jewellery, antique toys, gold, enamel works and more. For art that is a little more recent, visit the innovative Domus Artium Museum of Contemporary Art, which is housed in a building that was formerly a prison.

The space has been completely renovated to better display the avant-garde works.Salamanca is widely considered one of the most beautiful Spanish cities. It is also in Salamanca that the purest Spanish (or "Castellano") is said to be spoken. Part of its charm is that Salamanca offers the amenities of a larger city while retaining an intimate small town atmosphere - it has a population of just over 200,000.  All in all, its rich history, beautiful architecture, relaxed atmosphere and educational heritage make it a great place to study and indeed, one of the most popular places in Spain to learn Spanish.